Growth isn’t about perfection or performance, but about pursuing Jesus from a place of acceptance, freedom, and joy.

Main Ideas: There’s a real difference between “want to” work and “have to” work. Many of us feel the pressure to follow Jesus the ‘right’ way. real change flows from acceptance… not for it. Knowing Jesus is infinitely better than perfection. The pursuit of of God is the pursuit of joy. The point of following Jesus is Jesus. We don’t grow to be accepted; we grow because we already are. We don’t try harder to impress Jesus… we press on because Jesus already has us.

Invitation: Once a day, pause and pray: “God, thank you for loving me… all of me.” And then ask, “What would it look like to enjoy you right now?”

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📜 |TRANSCRIPT → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/media/2026-01-25.pdf

✍️ | 5 DAY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE → https://substack.com/@crosscreeksalem

🍞 | GATHER TOGETHER → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/#gather | 4:30pm on Sundays.

👋 | SAY HI → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/welcome/

🤝 | DONATE TO CROSSCREEK → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/donate/

Jesus frees us from shame and condemnation, replaces fear with freedom, and gives us a new identity rooted in God’s unconditional love.

Main Ideas: Our stories shape our identity and our life. Often, the stories that shape us the most are the ones forced on us. The Author of Life, is already at work, rewriting your story from the inside out. We can get stuck in the same broken story over and over. Jesus doesn’t erase our past chapters… he rewrites them into something beautiful. Jesus says you’re not just forgiven… You are rescued. The Holy Spirit of God is guiding you through your story, writing it one page at a time. Our setbacks and our struggles are real… but they are not our truest story. You don’t have to try harder because you’re already loved.

Invitation: Catch the old voices and replace them with truth. “I am not condemned. I am God’s beloved child.” Pray: ‘Holy Spirit, help me see myself the way you do.’

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📜 |TRANSCRIPT → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/media/2026-01-18.pdf

✍️ | 5 DAY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE → https://substack.com/@crosscreeksalem

🍞 | GATHER TOGETHER → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/#gather | 4:30pm on Sundays.

👋 | SAY HI → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/welcome/

🤝 | DONATE TO CROSSCREEK → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/donate/

Lasting spiritual change comes from identity in Jesus, not religious performance or self-improvement.

Main Ideas: The push to improve can leave us feeling like we’re never enough. Our value is received, not achieved. Our place in God’s family was his idea, not our achievement. When we become children of God, our identity fundamentally changes. God adopted us because it was the thing that would make him the happiest. Following Jesus starts by receiving, not achieving Belief is choosing to be confident that God can and will do what he promised. You can stop chasing a better you and rest in who you already are in Jesus.

Invitation: Remember who you are and speak your true name to yourself. I am a child of God. I have all I need in Jesus. I am chosen. I am adopted and accepted. I am saved, forgiven, and sealed.

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📜 |TRANSCRIPT → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/media/2026-01-11.pdf

✍️ | 5 DAY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE → https://substack.com/@crosscreeksalem

🍞 | GATHER TOGETHER → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/#gather | 4:30pm on Sundays.

👋 | SAY HI → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/welcome/

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 | JOIN A GROUP → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/#connect

🤝 | DONATE TO CROSSCREEK → https://www.yourcrosscreek.com/donate/